Travelogue 1: Travel to Delhi
Last Wednesday morning, Shree Maa and Swamiji awoke from their sleep prior to sunrise, performed their morning ablutions, said their morning prayers, and headed to the San Francisco Airport for their departure to incredible India.
Shree Maa had a three hour car ride in front of Her from Yuba City to San Francisco, navigated by none other than her own Hanuman named Monkey. (Yes, she named a devotee Monkey)
Shree Maa was giddy with happiness as She jumped into the car and made Her side-kick Ganesha all comfortable for the journey.
After the car was packed and everyone strapped in, off they went!
All the while, down south in Los Angeles, Swamiji gathered his backpack and one piece of luggage and grabbed a lift from Guru-uber (Guruber).
Guruber? Yes, no joking. This Guruber service is run by Vani and Viresh, two devotees in Los Angeles who started a service to Uber around Gurus. Swamiji’s trip was their first job, and Swamiji is their ONLY customer as they only have one Guru.
With only one customer, this is not a lucrative business financially plus they would not accept any payment for the service (and likely they gave Swamiji dakshina)! BUT – the blessings derived from Guru seva are all too real, though not quantifiable.
That morning Vani and Viresh had a tough job for they needed to navigate Swamiji through the dreaded Los Angeles traffic to catch a flight to San Francisco. 
Upon arrival to LAX, Viresh and Swamiji shared their love as they hugged each other goodbye.
That is some service! I am sure customers do not get hugs from regular Uber drivers, so this Guruber service provides an upgrade from the norm for sure.
The evening before their departure, I contacted both Shree Maa and Swamiji.
Without a doubt, they both expressed a tinge of excitement about this trip, both approaching their two month yatra together with positive anticipation and inspiring intentions to share their love, wisdom, and knowledge.
At the airport they enjoyed each other’s company as they relaxed and talked between themselves. Both were centered and in good spirits as they awaited the boarding of the plane.
During the flight, Shree Maa and Swamiji met Dr. Kalpana Dash, an Endocrinologist and Diabetologist who works for the Apollo Group of Hospitals in Chhattisgarh. The interaction on the flight was so comfortable and so familiar that it was like old friends or family members from long ago just catching up.
Before the end of the flight though, much to Dr. Kalpana’s delight, Shree Maa and Swamiji invited her into the family!
Shortly after landing, Dr. Kalpana joined the WhatsApp group, explained her story to everyone, and exclaimed, “I feel as though I have met my Divine Mother!
When we take to the road, get out of our comfort zone, and interact with people from all walks of life, we have an opportunity to touch the hearts and minds of people in ways that we can never ever measure. Inspire them positively and that can change not only their life, but everyone who associates with them.
Who knows how Dr. Kalpana’s life will be changed just from this one interaction on the plane with Her Divine Mother. Who knows the compounding effect this can have on other people in Dr. Kalpana’s sphere of influence.
The manifestations of grace in our lives can never really be predicted, but as Dr. Kalpana experienced today, when it arrives at your doorstep unexpectedly, from out of nowhere, then gratitude floods every cell of the body.
The power of gratitude is the potential energy that fuels the desire to contribute and to give back to others, and this in a nutshell is spirituality – giving more than we take.
It is mind-blowing, isn’t it, to think that everything we think, say, and do has ripple-effect impact on the rest of humanity and the world.
It is our dharma to uplift others. It is our karma to share our love. What better example do we need to prove to ourselves that our behavior and our actions matter! Thank you Shree Maa and Swamiji for this example.
Before stepping off the plan, Dr. Kalpana snapped this photo of her Divine Mother and Swamiji. Thank you Dr. Kalpana for being part of the family and so excuberently sharing this lesson with us!
On Thursday evening Shree Maa called to send all of her love and blessings to Her children in America, and to let us know that they arrived safely at Sanjay Baba’s home in Delhi. They will take rest in Delhi for four days before flying to Coimbatore, and then on to Ooty for Navaratri.
Stay tuned for the next post on satsanghs in Delhi and the travel to Otty.
Jai Maa!
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Swamiji Stop Here. The above will be pasted into the travelogue blog. Below is for next travelogue.
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Shree Maa and Swamiji arrive and Delhi and send their blessings.
Swamiji sets up satsangha
Welcome to Raveina and Dr. Kalpana. We have reached Delhi, and are taking rest at Sanjay’s house in Munirka. Please, if you like to see us tomorrow night at 6PM, call Sanjay for the address and details. Bharat Mata ki Jai!
9/20 Friday
Today Maa and swamiji visited the Divyansh family house in Delhi for lunch
Jai Maa
Darshan in Delhi:
Last night (Friday, the 20th evening) we shared our first satsangh in Delhi, and it was such a delight to see so many of our old friends. There were families that have been associated with us for more than 50 years, and they brought members of the next generation of devotees. We shared many fine discussions about our sadhana, and there were questions about the transmigration of the soul after leaving the body. We are still getting acclimated to the time change and jet lag, but we will depart for Coimbatore on Tuesday morning. Sending blessings to you all.
9/21
9/23
Satsangha at Sanjay Baba’s House
Munmun’s parents arrive:
ShreeMaa places her loving hand on Bharati Maa’s forehead 🙏
Today’s evening aarati, darshan and blessings at Sanjay Baba’s residence.
Arati:
After Satsangh swamiji slipped into mediation:
Maa looking lovingly as our Swamiji slips into a Samadhi after the evening aarati. Jai Swamiji!
9/24 Tuesday in Ooty
I think you can write the description from seeing the photos. Lunch was paratha, rice, string beans with coconut, dal/Sambar, mixed vegetables, yogurt, Kheer, Wada, and Barfi sweets, all served on a banana leaf.
We have not done sadhana together yet. She did her puja at Sanjay’s, while I did mine in the same room. So far I did: Tantra Bijamantratmaka, Cosmic Puja, Sundar Kunda, Durga Sahasranam, Ganesh Sahasranam, Devi Gita, and today Samasti Chandi and Bijamantratmaka, plus Hanuman Chalisa, Ashtakam, and Bajarang Ban.
Saw Sushil and Ramya last night. My heart is full. WE did something great to have such friends. Missing you.